Girdle



H. M. HERBENER 2,630,570

GIRDLE March 10, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Jan. 5, 1948 l i I i l l INVENTOR. HENRY M. HERBENEQ ATTOFQN EY March 10, 1953 H. M. HERBl-:NER 2,630,570

GIRDLE Filed Jan. 5, 1948 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 .xr-Tv INVENTOR. HENRY M. HERBENEF? BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GIRDLE Henry M. Herbener, Thomasville, Ga.

Application January 5, 1948, Serial No. 506

16 Claims.

My invention relates to girdles and has particular reference to means for retaining a flexible portion of the girdle in the proper or raised position.

An important object of the invention is to provide resilient means for supporting the top of a girdle portion, to permit the same to yield downwardly, and to return the top to the raised position, when the pressure is removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide resilient means of the above mentioned character which may be applied to the front portion or panel of the girdle, and will be suiiiciently exible so that its presence will not cause discomfort to the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide resilient supporting means of the above mentioned character, which is thin and will not render the garment bulky.

A further object of the invention is to provide resilient supporting means of the above mentioned character, which may be applied to various types of girdles or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a girdle embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the front panel, parts broken away,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 4a is a similar view taken on line IIa- 4a of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a similar view taken on line 'I--1 of Figure 2,

Figure 8 is a similar view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 2, l

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevation of the front panel, parts broken away, similar to Figure 3, showing a different form of resilient suppOrting means,

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on line I-I of Figure 9,

Figure 1l is a vertical section taken on line II-II of Figure 9.

In each of the rst three forms of the invention, Figures 1 to 14 inclusive, the numeral I0 designates the body portion of an elastic girdle, which may be woven or knit. This body portion is preferably a two-way stretch fabric and is elastic vertically and horizontally. Secured to the top of the body portion ID is an elastic band I I, having a one-way horizontal stretch, and this band is equipped with stiffening ribs I2. The

girdle includes a front panel I3, which may beV one-way vertically elastic, or two-way vertically and horizontally elastic, or non-elastic. This panel is attached to the body portion I0 at its vertical edges by zigzag lines of stitching I4, and is attached at its top to the upper band by the same zigzag lines of stitching I4.

At its top, the panel I3 is equipped with a pocket I5, which may be formed by extending the top of the panel I3 beyond the band II, and folding the same downwardly and outwardly upon itself, providing outer and inner layers I6 l and I'I. The edges of the body portion II) are passed between the layers I5 and I'I, Figures 6, 7, 8, and the left vertical edges of layers IB and I'I are permanently secured to the body portion I0 by the line of stitching I4. The inner layer I'I, at its right vertical edge, is secured to the body portion I0 by the right vertical line of stitching I4, which does not pass through the right vertical edge of the outer layer I6. The right vertical edge of the outer layer I6 is detachably secured to the body portion I0, Figure 8, by snap fasteners I8. The lower horizontal edge of the outer layer I6 is secured to the panel I3 by a horizontal line of zigzag stitching I9.

It is thus seen that the pocket I5 is closed at its top and bottom and at one end, and that the opposite end of the pocket may be opened, since the right end of the outer layer I6 is detachably secured to the body portion I 0 by the snap fasteners I8. This construction is common to the three forms of the invention, Figures 1 to 14 inclusive.

In Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, a second pocket 20 is formed within the first pocket I5. This second pocket includes a fabric layer or side 2|, arranged within the pocket I5 and secured to the layer or side I1 by a zigzag line of stitching 22, which passes about the top and bottom and one end of the layer or side 2|, but not about the opposite end of this layer, whereby one end of the pocket 2! is open and this open end is next to the open end of the pocket I5.

In Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, an outer resilient hoop 23 is provided, which may be formed of a resilient metal which will not readily corrode, or any other resilient material. This hoop is 3 preferably circular before being placed under tension and is preferably slightly curved horizontally or circumferentially to conform to the curvature of the body. The outer hoop is arranged within the first pocket I5 and its lower portion is covered by a pad 24 of felt or the like, arranged between the hoop and the inner layer I1. The top and bottom of the hoop engage or bear against the top and bottom of the pocket I5, and this engagement places the hoop under permanent tension, whereby the hoop is maintained somewhat compressed and is elliptical when held withing the pocket I5. The opposite horizontal ends of this elliptical resilient hoop are spaced a suitable distance from the ends of the first pocket I5, so that these ends are free to move horizontally when the hoop is further vertically compressed. The hoop is held in place within the pocket I5 by a vertical pair of snap fasteners 25 and a horizontal pair of snap fasteners 26. These snap fasteners are of the conventional type and the companion members of the same are sewed to the opposite sides of the pocket I5, one companion member of the lower snap fastener 25 being sewed to the pad 24 and side of the pocket I5. The snap fasteners being arranged inwardly of the hoop 23, retain the same in place within the pocket I5, but do not interfere with the outward movement of the horizontal ends of the hoop, when it is compressed. When the members of these snap fasteners are separated, the hoop 23 may be removed from the pocket I5. Arranged within the inner pocket 23 is an inner hoop 21, which is resilient and may be identical with the hoop 23, except smaller. The top and b-ottom of this inner hoop engage or bear against the top and bottom of the inner pocket 20, while the horizontal ends of the hoop 21 are spaced from the ends of the pocket 20, so that the horizontal ends of the hoop are free to move. This hoop 21, which is originally preferably circular, is permanently under tension within the pocket 20, and is compressed so it is somewhat elliptical. A vertical pair of snap fasteners 28 and a horizontal pair of snap fasteners 29 are arranged within the inner hoop 21. These snap fasteners are of the conventional type and include detachable companion members stitched to the opposite sides of the pocket 20. Since these snap fasteners are arranged within the hoop 21, they retain the same in place within the pocket 20, but do not interfere with the compression and expansion of the hoop. When the snap fastener members are separated, the hoop 21 is released and may be removed from the pocket 20 and also from the pocket I5. If desired, a pad may be arranged upon the inner side of the bottom of the hoop 21.

In use, the outer hoop 23 normally retains the top edge of the panel I3 raised and the pocket I5 vertically taut. The inner hoop 21 co-acts with the outer hoop 23 in retaining the inner portion of the pocket I5 taut. When downward pressure is placed upon the top of the panel I3 by the wearer bending forwardly, spch top edge is depressed, and the outer hoop 23 yields vertically, while its horizontal ends spread. When the pressure is relieved, the hoop 23 automatically returns the top of the panel I3 to the raised position. Both hoops constitute rounded closed structures. thereby eliminating any sharp edges which would tend to jab into the wearer. Both hoops are removable so that the garment may be laundered.

In Figures 9 to l1, the same girdle and pocket I5 are shown, but the inner pocket 20 is omitted. The hoops 23 and 21 are omitted, and a plurality of resilient hoops 30, 3|, and 32 are used, having different diameters, and arranged one within the other, in concentric relation. These resilient hoops are circular before being placed under tension. The upper extremities of these hoops contact and are rigidly secured together by welding' or the like, as indicated at 33. The lower portions of the hoops and their horizontal ends are spaced, as shown. A pad 34, corresponding to the pad 24, is arranged between the lower portions of the hoops 30, 3I, and 32 and the inner side of the pocket I5, next to the wearer. The outer hoop 30 bears against the top and bottom of the pocket, and is placed under tension and is elliptical in use, while its horizontal ends are free to move. A horizontal pair of snap fasteners 35 is disposed within the inner hoop 32, a horizontal pair of snap fasteners 36 is disposed within the inner hoop 32, a snap fastener 31 is disposed within the hoop 3| and engages the bottom of the hoop 32, and a snap fastener 33 is disposed within the hoop 30 and engages the bottom of the hoop 3I. The hoop 32 bears against the snap fastener 31, and the hoop 3| bears against the snap fastener 38, and hoops 32 and 3I are under compression, in use, and are elliptical. Each snap fastener embodies detachable members which are sewed to the opposite sides of the pocket I5', and some of these members are also sewed to the pad 38.

In use, lthe three hoops 30, 3! and 32 press against the top edge of the pocket I 5 and thereby normally retain the top of the panel I 3 elevated. When pressure is applied to the top of the panel I3, by the wearer bending over, such top is forced downwardly and the hoops further compress, their horizontal ends moving outwardly. These resilient hoops return the top of the panel to the elevated position, when the pressure is removed therefrom. 'Ihe three hoops are removable as a unit from the pocket I5, so that the garment may be more conveniently laundered.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A girdle including a horizontally non-elastic exible part having its top extending substantially to the top of the girdle to be depressed by the movement of the wearer, a resilient hoop arranged near the top of the exible part, means to secure the top of the hoop to the flexible part and the bottom of the hoop to the flexible part, said means slidably engaging with the sides of the hoop so that said sides are free to move outwardly in opposite directions in a generally horizontal direction with relation to the flexible part when the top of the hoop is depressed and moved downwardly with relation to the bottom of the hoop to shorten the distance between the hoop top and hoop bottom.

2. A girdle or the like including a exible part having a top to be depressed by the movement of the wearer, a resilient hoop secured to the flexible part near its top and including an upper portion exerting an upward force against the .flexible part and a bottom exerting a downward force against the exible part when the hoop is vertically corn- 5. pressed, said hoop including sides free to move outwardly in opposite directions in a generally horizontal direction with relation to said part when the upper portion of the hoop is depressed and moves downwardly toward the hoop bottom to shorten the distance between the hoop top and hoop bottom.

3. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a resilient hoop including a top and sides, and means for securing the hoop to the body portion and movably securing the sides of said hoop to the body portion so that the sides may move outwardly with relation to each other when the top of the hoop is depressed, the arrangement being such that the top of the hoop is flattened to an increased extent when said sides move outwardly with relation to each other.

4. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of the said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a resilient hoop including a top and sides, and means for detachably securing the hoop to the body portion and movably securing the sides of said hoop to the body portion so that the sides may move outwardly with relation to the body portion when the top of the hoop is depressed and to permit of the removal of the hoop from the body portion.

5. A girdle comprising a body portion havin an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means forming a pocket upon the body portion near the upper end, said pocket including upper and lower bearing means, and a resilient hoop held within the pocket to oppose the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said hoop including a top and bottom and sides, said top engaging the upper bearing means and said bottom engaging the lower bearing means, said sides being free from attachment with the pocket which would prevent the outward movement of the sides with relation to the pocket.

6. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means forming a pocket upon the body portion near the upper. end, said pocket including upper and lower bearing means, a resilient hoop held within the pocket and serving to oppose the downward movement of the upper end and to return the same to the raised position, said hoop including a top and bottom and sides, the top engaging the upper bearing means and the bottom engaging the lower bearing means, the pocket extending horizontally beyond the sides of the hoop and having slidable engagement with said sides to permit the sides to move outwardly when the hoop is vertically compressed.

7. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of the said `upper end and returning the same to the raisedposition, said means including a hoop including sides, means for securing the hoop to the body portion and movably securing the sides of said body portion so that the sides may move outwardly with relation to each other when the hoop is compressed vertically, and means to retain the hoop 6l in place upon the body portion without interfering with the outward movement of said sides.

8. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means forming a pocket upon the body portion near its upper end, said pocket having an opening, a resilient hoop for insertion within and removable from the pocket through the opening, the hoop serving to oppose the downward movement of the upper end, the hoop including sides which are free to move outwardly in a generally horizontal direction with relation to the pocket when the hoop is vertically compressed, and detachable means secured to the pocket and arranged inwardly of and near the sides of the hoop to retain the hoop in position within the pocket, said detachable means not interfering with the outward move ment of the sides of the hoop.

9. A girdle or the like comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a plurality of resilient hoops arranged one within the other, each hoop in cluding a top and sides, and means for securing the hoops to the body portion and movably securing the sides of said hoops to said body portion so that the sides of each hoop may move outwardly with relation to each other when the hoop is vertically compressed.

10. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a plurality of resilient hoops arranged one within the other in eccentric relation, each hoop including a top and sides, the tops of the hoops being secured together, and means for securing the hoops to the body por tion so that the sides of all the hoops may move outwardly with relation to the body portion when the hoops are vertically compressed.

1l. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for formingY a pocket upon the body portion near the upper end, said pocket having opposed faces and an opening, a resilient hoop removably mounted within the pocket and serving to oppose the downward movement of the upper end, said hoop including sides, the pocket slidably engaging the sides and free from attachment therewith which would prevent the outward movement of the sides in a generally horizontal direction when the hoop is vertically compressed, and snap fasteners for retaining the hoop in place within the pocket and arranged within the hoop, each snap fastener including companion elements secured to the opposite faces of the pocket.

12. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a resilient frame comprising an elongated top and sides, and means for securing the resilient frame to the body portion and movably securing said sides to said body portion so that the sides may move outwardly in a generally horizontal direction with relation to the body portion when the elongated top is depressed.

13. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a resilient element including an elongated top and sides, and means for securing the resilient element to the body portion and movably securing said sides to said body portion so that at least one side may move laterally with relation to the body portion when the elongated top is depressed.

14. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a resilient element including an elongated top and sides, and means for securing the resilient element to the body portion and movably securing at least one of said sides to said body portion, said means extending generally horizontally outwardly beyond at least one side and having slidable engagement therewith so that such side is free to move outwardly when the elongated top is depressed.

15. A girdle or like garment comprising a body portion having an upper end which is depressed by the movement of the body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the same to the raised position, said means including a resilient hoop including 9, top and sides, and means for m-ovably mounting the sides upon the body portion for outward movement with relation to each other and the body portion in a generally horizontal direction, rthe ar- 3i 16. A girdle vor like garment comprising a body portion .having an upper end which is depressed by the movement ofthe body, means for opposing the downward movement of said upper end and returning the .same to the raised position, said means including a resilient wire element including a relatively long top free from abrupt turns and upstanding sides, and means for movably securing the sides upon the body portion for outward movement with relation to each other and the body portion in a generally horizontal direction, the arrangement being such that when the upper end is vmoved downwardly the resilient element is vertically compressed.

HENRY M. HERBENER.

REFERENCES CITED The vfollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date k1,012,406 Merkin Dec. 19, 1911 1,499,160 Fanning June 24, 1924 1,682,361 Von Halle Aug. 28, 1928 2,045,401 Mowry June 23, 1936 2,196,492 Clark et al. Apr. 9, 1940 2,432,910 Licht Dec. 16, 194'7 2,511,641 Kuhn June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 244,948 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1925 369,204 Great Britain Mar. 11, 1932 443,618 Germany July 4, 1926 

